Western novels: Classic reads during rodeo season

Since rodeo season is upon us, here are some excellent western novels by area authors I recommend reading.

First up is the recently published “The Madstone,” by Austin author Elizabeth Crook. “The Madstone” begins in Comfort in 1868, and the action quickly moves on to Boerne, The Reed House (now The Kendall), and beyond.

The novel is told in epistolary style, from the point of view of young hero Benjamin Shreve. Benjamin is a woodworker in Comfort when circumstances propel him into an adventure he could have never imagined.